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[D110]Decorating A Christmas Tree

by Jo Williams, Jo

Now that it's the holiday season everyone is busy thinking about his or her Christmas Trees. There are tricks and tips to help you create a unique look that fits in your home and adds sparkle to your holiday celebrations. Whether real or artificial, a little imagination can take that blank canvas and turn it into something really magical that will brighten your whole holiday season.

You can start by looking for ideas on the trees you see in public places like malls or hotel lobbies. These are great places to get ideas that you can easily bring to your own tree.

Here are some great tips for creating a beautiful tree

1.Your tree will stand in you room till the holiday season ends so it should have a visual impact. The space in your room will determine the size of the tree you can have. This is important to consider especially if you want to enhance your ornaments.

2.Decide on the overall look you like. The more branch tips your tree has, the more ornaments and decorations are needed. If you want your tree to have an informal look, select a tree that has long needles and upswept branches. If you want something more formal, select a tree that has down swept branches and with short needles.

3.Pay attention to lighting. There is a general rule in deciding the number of lights for a tree ? a one foot tree should have about 40-50 lights. The simplest thing to do is buy a pre-lit tree, no mess and easy storage. But if you do the lights yourself, hang them inside the tree, for a twinkling effect. Stringing the lights on the outer edges, over the tips of the branches won't look right. Remember to keep the amount of light uniform, without and unfilled spaces.

4.Add garland. Whether you choose traditional garland or beaded garland, you can get a great look. If you want traditional, swag your garland from the top to the bottom, and also around the back of the tree. The swag of your garland will depend on the width of your tree. Twist the garland at the tip and it should be smaller as it reaches the top of the tree. Another style is to double swag your garland and form it into a spiral garland. Some prefer using ribbon that falls from the top of the tree down along to the bottom.

5.Use fillers. You must use fillers in order to give the tree an enchanting look. Some people don't do this but it is a great way to give your tree a new look.

6.Choose a color scheme. Use a single color or two complimentary ones to give your tree a coordinated, decorator look. Try traditional choices such as red and gold, or something different like pink and white. Use ornaments of these colors and keep the garland in the same color family as well.

7.Dare to be different. Decorate according to what you like, even if it isn't the ?traditional? way. Use your favorite hobby, ornaments collected on vacations, or old style bulbs to create a look that's truly your own. This will create a unique, personal holiday expression that is sure to be a conversation starter.

8.Don't forget the handmade ornaments. No matter what style you are trying to achieve, the hand made ornaments of your own childhood, or those of family members can be wonderful additions to any tree, and compliment any style.

9.Cover the base of your tree with a colorful tree skirt so that the gifts underneath will rest on a pretty background. This makes the packages look even more festive, and looks good after the presents are unwrapped too.

10.Top it off. Use a star, an angel or a large bow ? whatever suits your individual taste.

Selecting and decorating the Christmas tree is one of our most valued Yuletide traditions. Of all the symbols we associate with the holiday season, few are more recognizable than the Christmas tree. We take great care in selecting a beautiful, fragrant evergreen to place in our homes or businesses. We watch with delight as our kids hang ornaments, often as early as the day after Thanksgiving. We attend civic Christmas tree lightings in small towns and large cities alike. And, of course, on Christmas Eve we fill with anticipation as we wait for Santa to deliver the goods.

It all starts with the selection process, however. If, like millions of traditionalists everywhere, you've made the decision to trim a real tree versus an artificial one, your first step is to decide where you'll procure the evergreen and what type of tree you want.

While you can obtain a cutting permit and venture into a public forest yourself to down your tree, that may not be the safest or most efficient way to go. Today, most consumers opting for live trees visit a commercial Christmas tree farm or nursery, or they purchase one from a market vendor who has had the tree shipped from a nursery/farm.

Often, choices abound. Fir, spruce, pine, cedar and cypress all are popular varieties. Typically, a fir is considered the "true" Christmas tree. But the fact of the matter is that there are different species of fir trees and there truly is no right or wrong choice, no "official" Christmas tree. For example, a Colorado Blue Spruce serves as the National Christmas Tree outside the White House. Inside the White House, however, a variety of trees have been used over the years. There is no preferred presidential evergreen.

According to The National Christmas Tree Association (NCTA), the 10 most popular Christmas trees grown and sold in the United States are as follows, in order:

- 1. Fraser Fir
- 2. Douglas Fir
- 3. Balsam Fir
- 4. Colorado Blue Spruce
- 5. Scotch Pine
- 6. Eastern Red Cedar
- 7. White Spruce
- 8. Eastern White Pine
- 9. White Fir
- 10. Virginia Pine

While not in the Top 10 in terms of popularity, the Leyland Cypress is a good choice for individuals who suffer from allergies but still want a real tree for Christmas, according to the NCTA.

When choosing the tree that works best for your family, you'll want to take several things into consideration - beginning with the tree's size. Know the dimensions of the space into which you hope to place your tree. How high is the ceiling? How wide is the area? Take along a tape measure so that you can be certain the tree you've chosen will fit.

Look for a green tree with no (or very few) brown needles.

Take a good look at the bottom of the tree's "trunk" to ensure it is both sturdy and straight. If it is knotted or curved it may not fit into your base - then you've purchased and hauled a useless tree.

A reputable dealer won't sell a tree with these blemishes, but we all know there are plenty of disreputable vendors out there looking to make a quick buck!

Just like you kick the tires before buying a car, it's a good idea to test a tree before buying it by taking a branch in your grasp and, with gentle pressure, pulling at it. Don't pull hard, but instead allow the branch of the tree to pass through your fingers and palm pressure. If all or a majority of the needles stay on, the tree is strong. If several fall off, you're dealing with a weak tree.

Once you have a tree set up inside your home, it's time to decorate! A first-rate tree-topper and ornaments are an absolute must.

Finally, real trees can become fire hazards if proper precautions are not taken.

Article Source : Pg. 24

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Both Jo Williams & Jeremy White are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Jo Williams has sinced written about articles on various topics from Rose Gardening, Motorola Cell Phone and Home Management. Jo Williams has an interest in Home and Garden related topics. To access more information on christmas tree shops or on , please click on the lin. Jo Williams's top article generates over 90500 views. to your Favourites.

Jeremy White has sinced written about articles on various topics from Divorce and Infidelity, Holidays and Home Management. Imaginary Greetings focuses on rejuvenating the imaginations in all of us. Make this Christmas magical for all your family and friends. Visit for the best. Jeremy White's top article generates over 450000 views. to your Favourites.